Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homelessness Outreach topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Local organizers seek volunteers for Jan. 29 point‑in‑time count to improve federal funding data
Summary
Davidson County unsheltered access coordinators asked residents to volunteer and attend training for the Jan. 29 point‑in‑time count, emphasizing the count informs federal funding allocations for services to people experiencing homelessness.
LEXINGTON — Organizers for the point‑in‑time count in Davidson County asked residents on Jan. 13 to volunteer for a single‑night survey in late January that helps determine federal funding for homelessness services.
Janice Hurley, an unsheltered access coordinator with Davidson Medical Ministries and DC Connect, said the count is a “snapshot” of people experiencing homelessness on one night in January and that this year’s count will be held Jan. 29. She said the data gathered is the primary source the federal government uses to track the number, demographics and needs of people experiencing homelessness.
Hurley told the board the count is important to secure federal dollars for Davidson County’s services and urged residents to sign up and complete training. She said the region (Region 5, which includes Davidson, Cabarrus, Rowan, Union and Stanly counties) will conduct the count and the county can count people through Feb. 4 for data entry purposes.
Hurley said recent counts under‑reported local need: “In the past few years, we've only counted right at a 140 people. We have a 140 people experiencing homelessness in Lexington alone,” she said, and urged broader community participation to improve accuracy.
Organizers offered a volunteer training at 6 p.m. on Jan. 16 at Unity United Methodist Church in Thomasville; Hurley and others said they can arrange alternate training times for groups that cannot attend. Residents who want to participate were told to contact Hurley or Michelle Wood, or pick up a contact card from County staff (Debbie).
Why it matters: Point‑in‑time counts are used by HUD and other federal programs to estimate need and allocate funds for shelters, outreach and rental assistance. County and nonprofit officials said improving volunteer turnout and geographic coverage will help ensure Davidson County receives funding aligned with local needs.
What organizers asked for: trained volunteers to canvass shelters and outreach areas on the night of Jan. 29 (with counts entered through Feb. 4), and help publicizing the count to community groups and service providers.
No formal board action was taken on the topic; the remarks came during the public‑address portion of the meeting.
